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the deputy of arcis-第65节

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uttoned to the throat; surmounted by a black cravat worn without a collar and twisted round the neck; yellowish trousers; gray stockings; and laced shoes;such was the more than negligent costume in which the organist allowed himself to appear in a countess's salon。

Requested briefly to sit down; he said;

〃Madame; I hope I am not indiscreet in thus presenting myself without having the honor of being known to you; but Monsieur Marie…Gaston told me of your desire that I should give music…lessons to your daughter。 At first I replied that it was impossible; for all my time was occupied; but the prefect of police has just afforded me some leisure by dismissing me from a place I filled in his department; therefore I am now happy to place myself at your disposal。〃

〃Your dismissal; monsieur; was caused by your activity in Monsieur de Sallenauve's election; was it not?〃 asked Madame de Camps。

〃As no reason was assigned for it; I think your conjecture is probably correct; especially as in twenty years I have had no trouble whatever with my chiefs。〃

〃It can't be denied;〃 said Madame de l'Estorade; sharply; 〃that you have opposed the views of the government by this proceeding。〃

〃Consequently; madame; I have accepted this dismissal as an expected evil。 What interest; after all; had I in retaining my paltry post; compared to that of Monsieur de Sallenauve's election?〃

〃I am very sorry;〃 resumed Madame de l'Estorade; 〃to be unable to accept the offer you are good enough to make me。 But I have not yet considered the question of a music…master for my daughter; and; in any case; I fear that; in view of your great and recognized talent; your instruction would be too advanced for a little girl of fourteen。〃

〃Well;〃 said Jacques Bricheteau; smiling; 〃no one has recognized my talent; madame。 Monsieur de Sallenauve and Monsieur Marie…Gaston have only heard me once or twice。 Apart from that I am the most obscure of professors; and perhaps the dullest。 But setting aside the question of your daughter's master; I wish to speak of a far more important interest; which has; in fact; brought me here。 I mean Monsieur de Sallenauve。〃

〃Has Monsieur de Sallenauve;〃 said Madame de l'Estorade; with marked coldness of manner; 〃sent you here with a message to my husband?〃

〃No; madame;〃 replied Jacques Bricheteau; 〃he has unfortunately given me no message。 I cannot find him。 I went to Ville d'Avray this morning; and was told that he had started on a journey with Monsieur Marie…Gaston。 The servant having told me that the object and direction of this journey were probably known to you〃

〃Not in any way;〃 interrupted Madame de l'Estorade。

Not as yet perceiving that his visit was unacceptable and that no explanation was desired; Jacques Bricheteau persisted in his statement:

〃This morning; I received a letter from the notary at Arcis…sur…Aube; who informs me that my aunt; Mother Marie…des…Anges; desires me to be told of a scandalous intrigue now being organized for the purpose of ousting Monsieur de Sallenauve from his post as deputy。 The absence of our friend will seriously complicate the matter。 We can take no steps without him; and I cannot understand why he should disappear without informing those who take the deepest interest in him。〃

〃That he has not informed you is certainly singular;〃 replied Madame de l'Estorade; in the same freezing tone; 〃but as for my husband or me; there is nothing to be surprised about。〃

The meaning of this discourteous answer was too plain for Jacques Bricheteau not to perceive it。 He looked straight at the countess; who lowered her eyes; but the whole expression of her countenance; due north; confirmed the meaning he could no longer mistake in her words。

〃Pardon me; madame;〃 he said; rising。 〃I was not aware that the future and the reputation of Monsieur de Sallenauve had become indifferent to you。 Only a moment ago; in your antechamber; when your servant hesitated to take in my name; Mademoiselle; your daughter; as soon as she heard I was the friend of Monsieur de Sallenauve; took my part warmly; and I had the stupidity to suppose that such friendliness was the tone of the family。〃

After this remark; which gave Madame de l'Estorade the full change for her coin; Jacques Bricheteau bowed ceremoniously and was about to leave the room; when a sudden contradiction of the countess's comedy of indifference appeared in the person of Nais; who rushed in exclaiming triumphantly;

〃Mamma; a letter from Monsieur de Sallenauve!〃

The countess turned crimson。

〃What do you mean by running in here like a crazy girl?〃 she said sternly; 〃and how do you know that this letter is from the person you mention?〃

〃Oh!〃 replied Nais; twisting the knife in the wound; 〃when he wrote you those letters from Arcis…sur…Aube; I saw his handwriting。〃

〃You are a silly; inquisitive little girl;〃 said her mother; driven by these aggravating circumstances quite outside of her usual habits of indulgence。 〃Go to your room。〃 Then she added to Jacques Bricheteau; who lingered after the arrival of the letter;

〃Permit me; monsieur。〃

〃It is for me; madame; to ask permission to remain until you have read that letter。 If /by chance/ Monsieur de Sallenauve gives you any particulars about his journey; you will; perhaps; allow me to profit by them。〃

〃Monsieur de Sallenauve;〃 said the countess; after reading the letter; 〃requests me to inform my husband that he has gone to Hanwell; county of Middlesex; England。 You can address him there; monsieur; to the care of Doctor Ellis。〃

Jacques Bricheteau made a second ceremonious bow and left the room。

〃Nais has just given you a taste of her quality;〃 said Madame de Camps; 〃but you deserved it;you really treated that poor man too harshly。〃

〃I could not help it;〃 replied Madame de l'Estorade; 〃the day began wrong; and all the rest follows suit。〃

〃Well; about the letter?〃

〃It is dreadful; read it yourself。〃

  Madame;I was able to overtake Lord Lewin; the Englishman of whom   I spoke to you; a few miles out of Paris。 Providence sent him to   Ville d'Avray to save us from an awful misfortune。 Possessing an   immense fortune; he is; like so many of his countrymen; a victim   to /spleen/; and it is only his natural force of character which   has saved him from the worst results of that malady。 His   indifference to life and the perfect coolness with which he spoke   of suicide won him Marie…Gaston's friendship in Florence。 Lord   Lewin; having studied the subject of violent emotions; is very   intimate with Doctor Ellis; a noted alienist; and it not   infrequently happens that he spends two or three weeks with him at   Hanwell; Middlesex Co。; one of the best…managed lunatic asylums in   England;Doctor Ellis being in charge of it。

  When he arrived at Ville d'Avray; Lord Lewin saw at once that   Marie…Gaston had all the symptoms of incipient mania。 Invisible to   other eyes; they were apparent to those of Lord Lewin。 In speaking   to me of our poor friend; he used the word /chiffonait/;meaning   that he picked up rubbish as he walked; bits of straw; scraps of   paper; rusty nails; and put them carefully into his pocket。 That;   he informed me; is a marked symptom well known to those who study   the first stages of insanity。 Enticing him to the subject of their   conversations in Florence; he obtained the fact that the poor   fellow meditated suicide; and the reason for it。 Every night;   Gaston told him; his wife appeared to him; and he had now resolved   to /rejoin/ her; to use his own expression。 Instead of opposing   this idea; Lord Lewin took a tone of approval。 〃But;〃 he said;   〃men such as we ought not to die in a common way。 I myself have   always had the idea of going to South America; where; not far from   Paraguay; there is one of the greatest cataracts in the world;   the Saut de Gayra。 The mists rising from it can be seen at a   distance of many miles。 An enormous volume of water is suddenly   forced through a narrow channel; and rushes with terrific force   and the noise of a hundred thunder…claps into the gulf below。   There; indeed; one could find a noble death。〃

  〃Let us go there;〃 said Gaston。

  〃Yes;〃 said Lord Lewin; 〃I am ready to go at once; we must sail   from England; it will take a few weeks to get there。〃

  In this way; madame; he enticed our poor friend to England; where;   as you will already have supposed; he has placed him in charge of   Doctor Ellis; who; they say; has not his equal in Europe for the   treatment of this particular form of mental aberration。

  I joined them at Beauvais; and have followed them to Hanwell;   taking care not to be seen by Marie…Gaston。 Here I shall be   detained until the doctor is able to give a decided opinion as to   the probable results of our friend's condition。 I greatly fear;   however; that I cannot possibly return to Paris in time for the   opening of the session。 But I shall write to the president of the   Chamber; and in case any questions regarding my absence should   arise; may I ask Monsieur de l'Estorade to do me the favor of   stating that; to his knowledge; I have been absolutely forced by   sufficient reasons to absent myself? He will; of course;   understand that I ought not to expl

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